Remembering Inspiration

I just read a beautiful essay on inspiration from John Marshall Roberts.  Here's the kicky part:

We live in a mind-blowing time where a critical mass of people are becoming disenchanted with the old ways, and are actively seeking new ways, or contexts, for living. We seem to be collectively unwilling to continue pretending as though there is nothing more to us than just a temporary body and a pleasure-seeking mind. We seem to be craving something deeper and more sustainable, not just in terms of our outer environment, but also our inner environments. We seem to be ready to reclaim our birthright—the natural state of inspiration that all those years of forcing and persuading bred right out of us.

As we move forward, we'll learn that our biggest barrier to reclaiming this higher ground and seizing this opportunity rests not in the world outside us, but in our inner willingness to let go of the cynicism that we've accrued to protect ourselves from an apparently dangerous, threatening world. Martin Luther King's "fierce urgency of now" is but the recognition that we are bigger than our piddling fears, and are finally willing to yield to a deeper voice that knows the way. This voice is inspiration, and whenever we meet we either share it or lose it together.

Go for it.

John Francis (Mostly) Walks The Earth

Ok, if there was a character who could walk straight from the world into my new show, John Francis would be it!

The Bottom Line

From Global Mindshift

As humans, 

we believe that our highest purpose is to discover, 
live, and communicate what is needed to achieve a world 
that functions for the benefit of all life.

Our home is a water planet called Earth, cradled in a 
universe of beauty, mystery, and unfolding drama. 

We now know that everything from the largest galaxy 
to the smallest particle is part of one unified, 
whole, interconnected system.

Each of us, individually, is important and unique. However, 
at this moment in history, we are being called to set aside

any narrow self-interests and to act with integrity,

consciousness, and a spirit of goodwill.

Recognizing our common destiny, we envision a world in

which love becomes the prevailing human function,

cooperating together with all cultures, races, nations, and

religions for the benefit of all life.

More Beautiful Time Pieces

This one is filled with "singing sand" (don't know what that means) and can be found at the Nima Sand Museum in Kotoga Beach, Japan:

The Time Wheel in Budapest - an hourglass made of granite, steel, and glass.  The "sand" is made up of glass granules and flows from top to bottom in a year:

It's All About The Powah!

Frances Moore Lappe just published a great article in Yes about what she sees as the missing link in our search for happiness: making a difference.  She says:

If happiness lies in covering basic needs, plus satisfying personal ties and finding meaning, society's role is limited. It need only ensure that essential needs are met and provide opportunities to pursue personal relationships and meaning. Even a largely totalitarian government could do that.

But, if we add power to the happiness equation, our agenda shifts. Maximizing happiness then requires engaging citizens in changing the rules and norms so that more and more of us are empowered participants.

And, of course, joining with others in this exhilarating pursuit, we achieve a double whammy: Such activity furthers the widely appreciated relational and meaning aspects of the happiness puzzle.

I coudn't agree more. I know that when I'm feeling woolly and discontent with my life, and all the usual suspects - home, relationships, health, money - seem to be reasonably intact, I can usually trace my troubles to feeling like I'm not contributing enough, not making a difference.  I want the sense of power and efficacy.  Nice to have those feelings confirmed by as potent a thinker as Ms. Lappe.

Transition Movement In America

This is an interview with Jennifer Grey, one of the original Transition activists from Cornwall, UK.

Inuagurual Report From Kurdistan

"The most amazing thing happened when the swearing in took place. When the President (elect) took his place at the podium, every employee came out of the kitchen, every Kurdish and Iraqi patron stood up. We followed their lead, and many cried while he was sworn in.  I cannot even attempt to understand the emotions which took place here, in a nondescript restaurant, in Erbil Kurdistan and we had to argue with the owner to be able to pay our full bill - they wanted to cover it - in a place where people earn an average of 3k per year. I thought that you might be interested in this observation of what just happened, in this remote part of the world, as American democracy shows its face yet again."

Steve Mackenzie, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdisan